In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate recent claims that the Left is destroying civility in politics, the LGBTQ+ history of American gym culture, and a half-century of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the historical relationship between Canada and the United States, the legacy of the late designer Kate Spade, and the controversy over proposed changes to an Advanced Placement history course.

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

Relations between longtime allies the United States and Canada appear to be souring after the G7 summit. Natalia cited this article describing the last such tension during Richard Nixon’s presidency.

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, Donald Trump’s use of the presidential pardon, and the American tradition of separating families.

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the rise of Sinclair Broadcasting, life coach Tony Robbins’ dismissal of the #MeToo movement, and the fraught history of college early admissions.

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

Conservative media giant Sinclair Broadcasting Group inspired outrage when a viral video showed anchors reading a prepared script bashing the media. Natalia cited Niki’s U.S. News article on the role of the FCC in preventing the kind of domination to which Sinclair aspires.

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the historical significance of Cambridge Analytica and its relationship with Facebook, a serial bomber in Austin, and an all-white, all-male history conference at Stanford.

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

Cambridge Analytica is suddenly a household name for its troubling use of Facebook data to influence the 2016 election. Niki referred to Siva Vaidhyanathan’s forthcoming book, Antisocial Media, about the social costs of the rise of Facebook.

Stanford University’s Hoover Institution hosted a conference comprised entirely of white men. Niki referred to this Washington Post article about the long relationship between the Hoover Institution and Stanford.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Donald Trump’s firing of Rex Tillerson, the New York Times publishing obituaries for women it overlooked historically, and National Geographic’s self-study of its past racist coverage.

“Overlooked” is the name of a New York Times initiative to acknowledge the fact that since 1851, the paper’s obituaries have been dominated by white men. Natalia referred to Amanda Hess’s coverage of this issue at Slate. We all referred to this NPR interview with former Times obituary writers featured in the documentary Obit.

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the life and ministry of Billy Graham, youth activism after the Parkland shootings, and the West Virginia teachers’ strike.

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

Billy Graham, known to many as “America’s Pastor,” is dead. Niki referred to Kevin Kruse’s article about Graham’s early conservatism at Made by History and Anthea Butler’s HuffPost article about the limits of Graham’s racial progressivism. Natalia mentioned this Rolling Stone story about Graham’s role in encouraging homophobia.

West Virginia’s teachers are striking. Natalia talked about the anti-union film The Lottery and recommendedjournalist Trey Kay’s podcast broadcast in collaboration with the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Center, Us & Them.